The job of the applied scientist is a tough one. Criticised by academia for research that doesn’t consider the global conceptual model, hassled by management investors for trying to do research that does consider the global conceptual model – it’s a constant battle for validation. Regardless, applied science, which straddles the divide between furthering ecological theory and progressing the real-world realities of solving complex on-ground problems to improve management outcomes, is becoming increasingly vital in a world where opinion means more than fact. Globally, there are increasing examples of robust science being ignored in favour of popular opinion. While disregard for science is not a new stance (i.e. the world is flat, climate change denial, anti-vaccine lobby) the recent peak in social scepticism and short-termism is flowing through politics, via management decisions, to the role of science in decision-making. As such, researchers working on applied problems who possess the ability to articulate complex ideas to the community in a digestible way are increasingly needed to bridge the cultural gap and enable ‘opinions’ that are at least based on evidence. This conversation is just beginning. In this presentation, I provide a summary view on what applied science means for fish and fishery management in Australia in 2018, and how, as researchers and managers, we can set ourselves up to deliver evidence-based research and management outcomes in a changing world.